The Ascetic and the Nymph: A Lesson in Self-Control

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was an ascetic who lived alone in the remote Himalayas, dedicated to his spiritual practice. One morning, after spending the entire night wrestling with his inner spirit, he bathed in a serene mountain lake. As he dried himself, dressed only in his undergarment, a beautiful nymph appeared. She saw him and was immediately captivated, struck by his appearance and his spiritual presence.

The nymph, overcome with desire, approached the Bodhisatta and tempted him. She suggested that he should enjoy the pleasures of life first, indulge in worldly joys, and then, when the time came, dedicate his later years to religious pursuits. She implied that he could live a life of luxury and pleasure before turning to spirituality.

The Bodhisatta, wise and discerning, calmly replied that life is uncertain—no one knows when death will come. He said that he could not take such a risk, as he could not afford to wait until old age to practice virtue and meditation. Life was too precious and unpredictable for such delays.

Upon hearing his answer, the nymph realized that her temptation had no power over him. She left, understanding that the Bodhisatta was steadfast in his resolve and not swayed by fleeting desires.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha:

Many years later, one of the Buddha’s disciples had a similar experience. After a night of deep spiritual meditation, he bathed and, while drying himself, encountered a nymph. She, too, was struck by the disciple’s presence and fell in love with him. The nymph, with her enchanting words, tempted the disciple to follow the same path she had offered the Bodhisatta—to enjoy the pleasures of life first and pursue spiritual practice later.

But the disciple, just like the Bodhisatta in his past life, responded wisely. He explained that no one knows when their life will end, and he could not afford to waste time on worldly pleasures when his goal was spiritual enlightenment. Realizing that her temptation had no hold over him, the nymph left in disappointment.

The disciple, feeling both relieved and curious, went to the Buddha and told him of his encounter. The Buddha, understanding the significance of this moment, shared the story of the past life. He explained that in that life, he, too, had been tempted by the same nymph, and just as his disciple had done, he had rejected her offer, choosing the path of wisdom and spiritual discipline instead.

Moral of the Story: The fleeting pleasures of life can distract us from our true purpose. Wisdom lies in recognizing the uncertainty of life and choosing to live each moment with mindfulness, self-control, and dedication to our higher goals. One should not delay spiritual practice, for no one knows when their time will come.